Book Shah’s killers for media pluralism: UN
“I am also deeply concerned about threats to journalists reporting on his death. I trust that the Nepalese authorities’ investigation into this crime will be successful and that those seeking to intimidate the media will be brought to justice,” added Bokova.
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KATHMANDU, FEB 17 - The United Nations has called on the Nepal government to bring the killers of media entrepreneur and those issuing death threats against journalists covering his death to justice in the interests of the media pluralism essential for free and informed debate.
The United Nations agency entrusted with defending press freedom said so according to the UN News centre.
Media entrepreneur Jamim Shah, the chairman of Spacetime Network Pvt. Ltd and Channel Nepal, was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle in Lazimpat in Kathmandu on Feb. 7, and his driver Mathuraman Malakar was seriously injured.
Last week, Managing Director of Kantipur Publications and the editors Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post had received threats by telephone and email to stop coverage of Shah’s killing. Similar threats were reported to have been received by the group that publishes the daily Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post.
“I condemn the murder of Jamim Shah,” the UN quoted UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova as saying, “Mr. Shah was a key player in the development of television in Nepal which, like every country, relies on media pluralism to foster free and informed debate.”
“I am also deeply concerned about threats to journalists reporting on his death. I trust that the Nepalese authorities’ investigation into this crime will be successful and that those seeking to intimidate the media will be brought to justice,” added Bokova.
Similar concern was voiced yesterday by the Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal Richard Bennett.
The independent Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that at least 13 journalists have been murdered in Nepal over the past decade.
Posted on: 2010-02-17 06:13
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